Mine-car coupler



Aug. 17,1926.

A. ALLEN MINE umN4 coUPLER Filed April 12, `i924 W WNI .mw www@ mm.

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.when the cars are Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

UNITED STATES ANDREWS ALLEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MINE-CAR COUPLER.

Application led. April 12, 1924. Serial No. 705,971.

My invention relates to mine car couplers of the semi-automatic type and has for its primary object the provision of a mine car coupler which will easily and safely the coupling together of a pair of mine cars at varying angles with respect to each other and at different levels and grades such as are found in a mine.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of mine car couplings in which the coupling elements can be s0 positioned that a coupling will be effected brought together without the necessity of an operator placing his body between the cars or usi-ng both hands to complete the coupling, thereby endangering the life of such operator. In my invention the coupling pin may be cocked at a slight angle in the hole in the female coupler and thecoupling effected by impact alone-or the operator may stand in the clear and drop the pin into coupling position with one hand in such a way that he is in no danger of bodily injury. l

Another and further object of my invention is to provide a coupler'which will be automatic in its action only when manually positioned for coupling and which will not'y couple unless set for coupling.y in this way avoiding the objections to a fully automatic coupler which will couple unless set for bufiing, there being operations in connection with the hoisting of mine cars from a mine in which it is essential that the cars shall bump and not couple, and in which a serious wreck would result if they were to couple.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a spring draft gear for mine cars and the use of the same members for coupling and swiveling without the expense and complication of a separate set of parts for each operation. My invention provides a mine car coupling apparatus comrising a pair of co-operable coupling memgers {iexibly mounted on a pair of mine cars and adapted to be positioned in coupled relation to each other without the use of a coupling link or any other mechanism, except a coupling pin to'hold the two members in coupled relation with each other and which automatically position themselves inl coupling position when brought together upon the mine track.

Another and further object of my invention is the provision of a mine car coupling which can be completely assembled ready effecty tically extending side for use before attachment to the mine car and which can be readily attached thereto, I

car frame, which receive all the strain both in pushing and pulling. The cou ling is held 1n such position by members which are easily removable and which carry no strain other than their own weight and the weight of the coupler.

These and other objects of my invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is aI horizontal sectional view howmg coupling members in coupled relaion; t Figure 2 is a longitudinally vertical sectional view on lines 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fi ure 3 is an end elevational view of the emale coupler illustrated in Figure 2. Referring now specifically to the drawings, and in which like reference characters refer to like members thereof, a pair of mine cars 10 and 11 are shown, the said mine car 10 having a pair of draft members 12 and 13 respectively, which are secured to a pair of longitudinally extending bottom frame members 14 and 15, with a pair of filler blocks 15EL positioned between the sills 14 and 15)' and the draft members 12 and 13, and over which the mine car bottom 16 is positioned, it being understood that the views shown in Figure 1 may represent either the adjoining ends of two cars in coupled relation, or opposite ends of the same car. Positioned between the draft members 12 and 13 is a coupling block 17 having a pair of stops 18 and 19 in front of the said block, the said stops being secured to the draft sills 12 and 13 in any approved manner. A second pair of stops 20 and 21 are provided at the rear of the coupling block 17 and are secured to the members 12 and 13, and with the stops 18 and 19 form vertically extending guideways within which thecoupler block 17 is mounted. f The coupler block 17 is rectangular inv shape with enlarged verortions 17'A and 17" and transversely exten ing upper and lower rib portions 17 and 17d, with a pair of upf per and lower rear trunnions a pair of upper and lowergfront trunnions 24 and 25, formed upon the rib portionsl?"- and 17d respectively, against which the rear end of the coupler head and the forward 22 and 23 andl end of the counter-wei ht abut, as will be fully described hereina ter.

The coupling block 17 has a central web portion 17 e with an opening 26 therethrough which is flared outwardly from the center to allow for free vertical and lateral movement of the coupler bolt therein, the said web portion being thickest in the central portion thereof and sloping outwardly7 towards the sides ofthe said coupler bloc-li on its front and rear sides with .short vertically extending, centrally positloned ribs 29 and 29a on the rear side of the coupler block with similar ribs on its front side upon which the sliding washers vand spring containers seat as hereinafter-described, this construction allowing for free lateral I novement of the coupler head with a minimum spring resistance and to prevent lrregular seating of the springs.

A male coupler head 30 is provlded, substantially rectangular in horizontal cross section except at its forward end the sides slope inwardly and terminate in a nose portion 30, the forward portlon .of whlch 1s circular and is adapted to engage the female coupler and ride into proper coupling relation from any angular-position met 1n practical operation of mine cars. The rear portion of the coupler has a p-air of web portions 31 and 32 extending thereacross with openings therein through which a coupling shank or bolt 33 extends, the said coupling bolt extending rearwardly through the openingr 26 in the coupler block 17 and a nut 34 in threaded engagement with the said coupler bolt 33 at its forward end thereof, with a pin 34 inserted through the'coupler bolt 33 and nut 34 to securely hold the nut in position. The coupler head 30 at its rear end, has a recess 35 formed therein within which is seated a spring 36 which abuts against a washer 37, which in normal straight position seats against the ribs at the .forward side of the coupling block 17 at its rear end and against the coupler head 30 at its forward end.

The coupling head 30 has an upper projection 37 and a lower projection 38 thereon, each of these members having concave recesses therein concentric with the trunnions 24 and 25 on the coupler block 17, with whichthey are adapted to come in contact, and receive buiiing shocks from the said coupler head during the operation of the device.

At the rear of the coupler bolt 33 is mounted a counterweight 39 having a recess 40 formed in the forward face thereof with an upper projection 41 and a lower projection 42 formed thereon, these projections having concave surfaces concentric with the upper and lower trunnions 22 and 23 on the-rear side of the coupler block 17, and adapted to receive pulling shocks durhead 30 and which has ing the operation of the device from the counter-weight 39 which abuts against the trunnions 22 and 23 on the rear side of the coupler block 17, when the pulling strains are in excess of what can be sustained by spring 43. A rear spring 43 is provided which is mounted upon the coupling bolt 33 and is seated within the recess 40 formed in the counter-weight 39, with its rear end againstthe said counter-weight 39, with its forward end abutting against the washer 44 which in turn rides against the rear side of the coupler block 17 or sloping sides of the coupler block when the coupler head is turned to one side or the other.

The rearward and downward extending projection 39 of the coupler block 39 is proportioned in weight so as to tend to keep the male coupler head 30 in a horizontal plane against any tendency to rotation from jolting of the cars in service. The counterweight 39 as a whole is proportioned in weight so as to practically balance the weight of the coupler head 30 around the fulcrum in coupler block 17.

The coupler bolt 33 has a head- 33a at the rear end thereof which seats in a recess 39a at the rear end of the counterweight 39. The nut 34 tits the abutting vertical sides of coupler head 30 and the head 33JL fits the "ertical sides of counterweight 39, so that the pin 34a which holds nut 34 from turning effectively locks the various parts of the mechanism from rotating about a longitudinal axis, so that the wembled coupler head can rotate about this axis only as a whole. A strap 43'3L is secured to the members 12 and 13 by bolts and is positioned underneath the coupler block 17 so that the whole' draft mechanism is held in position and is easily removable by taking out the bolts holding strap 43. A

A female coupler head 45 is provided which is adapted to receive the male coupler a wide converging forward recess in its forward end with angularly disposed straight side walls 46a and 46b with a seat portion 47 curved in contour with a slightly greater curvature than the nose 30a of the male coupler and against which the said nose 30a is adapted to seat from a variety of angles of approach of two mine cars, both vertically and horizontally.

The coupling head 45 has a receiving recess in its forward face formed with a down` wardly sloping upper surface 48 and an upwardly sloping lower surface 49 adapted to receive the male coupling head 30 and guide it into proper coupling position so the coupling pin 50 can be dropped through an opening 51 in the coupler head 45 and through an opening 52 in the male coupler head 30. The coupling pin 50 is an elongated oval in cross-sectional shape, and is adapted t0 fit fairly closely in the opening 64 and 65 formed in web portions 66 an nasales 51 in the female coupler head 45 of approxi-v shape and considerably larger than the cou-4 pling pin 5l in cross-sectional area so as to allow the male coupler to abut a ainst the female coupler thereby receiving t e buiiing shocks and also so the coupling pin 5l will drop into position in different coupling po sitions of the cars, and further providing an amount of slack in moving the cars so that it is not necessary in starting the cars that the whole train must -be moved as a unit. The location of the pin is approximately midway between the wheels of adJoining cars when the couplers are in average position, and only when entering or leaving curves will the male coupler head be at an angular position with respect to the car on which it is mounted. .The female coupler head is mounted in the mine car 11 between a pair of longitudinally extending draft sills 53 and 54 secured to the frame members 53'L and 54al with a pair of forward stops 55 and 56, which are secured to the sills 53 and 54,

being provided with a pair of 7 and 58, which are secured to the members 53 and54, all of these stops being positioned below the mine car oor 59.

A coupling block 59a is provided having an opening 60 therein through which a coupling bolt 6l extends, having a head 62 at its rear end and a nut 63 at its forward end, the said bolt 62 extending through openng of the coupling head 45 so that it is projected forward in a plane parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bolt 6l. A recess 68 is formed at the rear of the coupler head 45 within which is seated a spring 69 at the front of the coupling block 59a and abutting against the said coupling block at its rear end. At the rear of the coupler block 59 and up@ the coupling shank 6l is mounted a spring"70 which abuts against the coupler block 59 at its forward end and is seated within a recess formed in acup shaped member 7l mounted upon the rear end of the bolt respectively, rear stops 5 At the forward end of the members 53 and 54 is mo-unted a pair of vertically extending angles 72 and 73 which form retaining members for a pair of channel members 74 and 75 against which the sides of the coupling member 45 are positioned. A bottom plate 76 is provided which holds the coupling block 59 and the channel membersv 74 and 75 in position, both of these members being prevented from turning by close contact against which their outer ends rest.

In. assembling the device, it will be under stood that the coupling bolt 33 attached to the male coupler head 30 has the counterweight 39 placed thereon withthe sprin 43 and washer 44 placed in position. The olt is then inserted in the opening 36 in the couple'rblock 17, the washer 37 placed in po. sition with the sprin 36 and thereafter the bolt is screwed into tlgie nut 34 until both the springs 43 and 36 are under compression so that the in 34* can be placed in position through t e nut 34 and through the bolt 33,-

and thereafter the spring can e'compressed, till the nut has gone beyond its container and the bolt then rotated to the position shown in Fiure 6, the s ring afterwards being release so that it 1s impossible for the pin 34 to fall out of position.

While I have described more or less precisely. the details of construction, I do not -wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form and the proportion of parts and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars,

and means for 'detachably connecting together said coupler members, one of said coupler members being mounted for radial swinging movements, and the other coupler being fixed against radial movement, said coupler members having play upon the connecting means of said cooperating coupler members in bufting to effect bufiing through said members independently of the connection.

2. In .car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars, and means for detachably and pivotally connecting together said coupler members, one of said coupler members being mounted for radial swinging movements, and the other coupler member being fixed against radial movement, said coupler members. having play upon the connecting means to permit endwise abutting of said cooperating coupler members in bufiiiig to effect buiiing through said members independently of the connection. i

3. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars, and means for detachably connecting together said coupler members, one of said coupler members beingmounted for'radial swinging movements, and the other coupler member being fixed against radial movement, and also one of said coupler members being swiveled on its longitudinal axis.

4. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair yof cooperating coupler to permit endwise abutting llO members for mounting upon respective cars,

and means for detachably connecting to-l gether said ycoupler members, onel of saidcoupler members being mounted for radial swinging movements, and the other coupler member being fixed against radial movement, and also one of said coupler members being swiveled on its longitudinal axis and the other couplerl member being fixed against swivel movement upon its longitudinal axis.

5. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars, and meansv for detachably connecting together said coupler members, one of said coupler members being mounted for radial swinging movements, and the other coupler member being fixed against radial movement, coacting faces of the two coupler members being shaped to center the member having radial movement upon the fixed member.

6. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars,

and means for detachably and pivotally connecting together said coupler members, said members having play upon the connecting means to permit endwise abutting of said cooperating coupler members in bufling to effect bufiing through the members independently of the connection.

7. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars, said coupler members having cooperating draft pin openings, and a draft pin for said openings, the draft pin openings in one of the coupler members being of a size to permit abutting of the coupler members under` bufing to remove bufiing strains from the draft pin. i

8. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of .a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars, and means for detachably connecting together said coupler members, one of said coupler members being mounted for radial swin 'ng movements, the other coupler mem er being fixed against radial movement, and said coupler members having play upon the connecting means to permit endwise abutting of said cooperating coupler members in buing to effect buliing through said coupler members independently of the connection.

9. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars, and means for detachably connecting together said vcoupler members, one of said coupler members being mounted for radial swinging movements. the other coupler member being fixed against radial swinging movements, and also one of said `coupler members being swiveled on its longitudinal axis, said cooperating coupler members having plav upon the connecting means to permit endwise abutting of said cooperating coupler members in bufiing to effect bufiing through said coupler members independently of the connection.

10. In car coupling mechanism, the combination of a pair of. cooperating coupler members for mounting upon respective cars, and means for detachably connecting together said coupler members, one of said coupler members being mounted for radial swinging movements, the other coupler member being fixed against radial swinging movements, also one of said coupler members being swiveled on its longitudinal axis and the other coupler member being fixed against swivel movement upon its longitudinal axis, and said coupler members having play upon the connecting means to permit endwise abutting of said cooperating coupler members in bufiing to effect bufiing through said coupler members independently of the connection.

Signed at Chicago, Ill., this second day of April, 1924.

ANDREWS ALLEN. 

